Display package for aquarium accessories

ABSTRACT

A display package for aquarium accessories comprising an illustrative backing support and transparent chamber-defining cover connected to one another. A plurality of ornamental objects such as aquatic life replica differing from one another are each interposed between the illustrative support and cover internally of the chamber of the latter. The ornamental objects are generally similar respectively to corresponding illustrated objects on the illustrative support and are detachably secured within the chamber of the transparent cover such that the ornamental objects specifically coincide with corresponding of the illustrated objects respectively. The display package is instructive in the sense that upon the dismantling thereof, the illustrative support may be affixed to the rear panel of an aquarium and the ornamental objects can be disposed within the aquarium in a manner similar to the package itself such that the ornamental objects respectively coincide with corresponding illustrated objects to enhance an appearance of ornament multiplicity and rearward depth.

[ DISPLAY PACKAGE FOR AQUARIUM ACCESSORIES [75] Inventors: Allan H. Willinger, New Rochelle;

Albert J. Dinnerstein, Far Rockaway, both of N.Y.

[73] Assignee: Metaframe Corporation, Maywood,

[22] Filed: Jan. 20, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 107,979

[52] US. Cl. 206/45.34, 119/5, 206/47 R, 206/78 B [51] Int. CL. 865d 25/54, 865d 77/08, AOlk 64/00 [58] Field of Search 161/19; 35/16, 28, 35/20; 119/5; 53/37; 206/47 R, 45.34, 78 B, 80 A [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,625,647 4/1927 Gillan 206/44.11 1,064,813 6/1913 Bloomberg 206/79 R 1 3,144,932 8/1964 Zerbo 206/47 R 3,259,236 7/1966 Cole 206/78 B 3,119,371 l/l964 Zukerman 119/5 3,121,417 2/1964 Goldman et al. 1 19/5 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 360,647 2/1962 Switzerland 206/78 B Oct. 9, 1973 Primary Examiner-Leonard Summer Attorney-Friedman & Goodman [5 7] ABSTRACT A display package for aquarium accessories comprising an illustrative backing support and transparent chamber-defining cover connected'to one another. A plurality of ornamental objects such as aquatic life replica differing from one another are each interposed between the illustrative support and cover internally of the chamber of the latter. The ornamental objects are generally similar respectively to corresponding illustrated objects on the illustrative support and are detachably secured within the chamber of the transparent cover such that the ornamental objects specifically coincide with corresponding of the illustrated objects respectively. The display package is instructive in the sense that upon the dismantling thereof, the illustrative support may be affixed to the rear panel of an aquarium and the ornamental objects can be disposed within the aquarium in a manner similar to the package itself such that the ornamental objects respectively coincide with corresponding illustrated objects to enhance an appearance of ornament multiplicity and rearward depth.

10 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures United States Patent [1 1 v 11 3,763,997 Willinger et a]. Oct. 9, 1973 PAIENTED 9W 3.763.997

SHEET 19? 3 ALLAN IL WlLLlNGllR ALBERT J.

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sum m 3 ALLAN H. .WILLINGER ALBERT J. DINNERSTEIN INVENTORS ATTORNEYS DISPLAY PACKAGE FOR AQUARIUM. ACESSORIES BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTlON The present inventionrelates to artificial replica of marine life for the hobbyist, and more particularly to an instructive display package for purchase by the hobby ist, andaim'ethod of assembling an aquarium using the instructivedisplay package according to the present invention.

Atpresent there exist many artificial objects or replica of marine life that may be used by the hobbyist in an'aquarium. These ornamentalobjects are generally plants varying in nature and type. The hobbyist, however, is generally left to hisown imaginative resources for arranging these objects in an aquarium to impart a natural appearance of. the marine environment thereto. The hobbyist, furthermore, is usually required to purchase numerous of these objects for filling the aquarium in'amanner that will convey to anobserver an appearance of a fully equipped aquarium. Thisisbecause the hobbyist generally is unfamiliar with optical principles and therefore believes that only by depositing a great number of ornamental objects in the aquarium can he achieve the most natural and fully equipped effect he desires. This results, therefore, in added and undue expense for the hobbyist, and usually in an appearance which is less than most natural and desirable under the circumstances.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide instructive means for most desireably ar- Another object of the present invention is to enable the hobbyist to most efficiently utilize opticalprinciples associated with reflective media without the hobbyist himself having to understand these principles in any way.

It is still a further object of the present invention to enable the hobbyist to arrange the aquarium with a minimum number of artificial objects of'marine life.

It is another object of the present invention to convey to an observer of the aquarium the appearance of a multiplicity of objects substantially greater than the actual number of objects in the aquarium.

It is still another object of the present invention to convey to an observer of the aquarium the appearance of an exaggerated extended rearward depth of the marine environment.

These objects and others are achieved by providing a display package for aquarium accessories comprising an illustrative backing support and transparent chamher-defining cover connected to one another. A plurality of ornamental objects such as marine life replica differing from one another are each interposed between the illustrative support and cover internally of the chamber of the latter. The ornamental objects are generally similar respectively to corresponding illustrated objects on the illustrative support and are detachably secured within the chamber of the transparent cover such that the ornamental objects specifically. coincide with corresponding of the illustrated objects respectively. The display package is instructive in the sense that upon the dismantling thereof, the illustrative support can be affixed to the rear panel of an aquarium and the ornamental objects may be disposed within the aquarium in a manner similar to the package itself such that the ornamental objects coincide with corresponding illustrated objects to enhance an appearance of ornament multiplicity and rearward depth.

BRIEFDESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS With the above and additional objects and advantages in view aswill hereinafter appear, this invention comprises the devices, combinations, and arrangements of parts hereinafter described and illustrated in theaccompanying drawings of a preferred embodiment in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates an exploded perspective view of the elements constituting the display package according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective and partly exploded view of the ornamental elements utilized according to the present invention for arranging an aquarium; and

FIG. 3 illustrates a perspective view, partly in crosssection, of a corner portion of an aquarium assembled according to the method of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION As illustratedgenerally in FIG. 1, the present invention comprises an instructive display package of replica of marine and aquatic life for the hobbyist. The display package comprises an illustrative support 10 or package backing having adjoining edges 11-14. The illustrative support 10 is provided with a plurality of illustrated marine plants 15-17 and an illustrated rock-and-gravel bed '18. Disposed in front of the illustrative support 10 are a plurality of ornamental objects 19-21 of marine plant life supported on base members 22 respectively. The ornamental objects 19-21 specifically correspond with the illustrated. plants 15-17 respectively in color and configuration.

Also illustrated in FIG. 1 is a transparent plastic cover 23 having adjoining edges 24-27. The cover 23 is formed with a transparent cover casing 28 defining a chamber therein and is bounded by four transverse side portions 29 (only two of which are shown), the side portions 29 extending away from or outwardly of the edges 24-27 respectively. Also forming in the transparent plastic cover 23, adjacent the lower side portion 29, are receptacle 30-32 which communicate with the interior of the chamber defined by the casing 28 and in which the base members 22 respectively of the ornamental objects 19-21 may be accommodated.

The illustrative support 10 is provided with an adhesive layer 33 extending along the opposite edges 13 and 14, and with protective strips 34 respectively to maintain the readhesive nature of the layers 33 so that the latter may be used in a manner as will be 'further discussed below.

In assembled form, the illustrative support 10 is connected to the plastic cover 23, with the objects 19-21 interposed therebetween, such that, by conventional means, the edges 11-14 of the illustrative support 10 contact the edges 24-27 respectively of the cover 23.

The transparent cover 23 may be connected to the illustrative support with the ornamental objects 19-21 interposed therebetween in any conventional well known manner such that the edges 24-27 of the cover 23 are superposed with, or in fact lie flush upon, the edge portions 11-14 of the illustrative support 10.

As indicated above, the display package of the present invention is instructive in nature in the sense that the hobbyist when purchasing ornamental accessories for his aquarium may be provided with a package for sufficiently equipping his aquarium, which package itself is arranged in a manner that the hobbyist is to arrange his aquarium. ln this respect, the hobbyist upon viewing the accessories within the package, i.e., the ornamental objects of plants 19-21 and the illustrative support 10, is immediately aware of the arrangement for his aquarium since the backing or illustrative support 10 is arranged behind the ornamental objects 19-21 such that the corresponding ornamental objects and illustrative objects are arranged opposite one another respectively in a manner as the aquarium is to be arranged.

The hobbyist merely disassembles the package by removing the illustrative support 10 from the transparent plastic cover 23 and equips his aquarium 40, as shown generally in FIG. 2, with both the ornamental objects 19-21 and the illustrative support 10. The aquarium 40 includes front and rear transparent panels 41-42 respectively, and side panels 43. The aquarium furthermore includes a bottom panel 44 upon which the ornamental objects 13-21 are to be arranged within the confines of the panels 41-43.

According to the method of the present invention of assembling the aquarium, the hobbyist mounts the illustrative support 10 on the outer or external surface of the rear panel 42 such that the edges 11-14 of the illus trative support 10 align with the corner edges 45-48 of the rear panel 42 respectively. The illustrative support 10 is fastened to the rear panel 42 through the intermediary of the adhesive layers 33 which adhere to the rear panel 42 and to which access is available by removing or peeling the protective strips 34. With the illustrative support 10 so mounted on the rear panel 42 of the aquarium 40, the hobbyist then disposes or deposits the ornamental plant-like objects 19-21 into the aquarium 40 between the front and rear panels 41-42 respectively. Furthermore, the hobbyist arranges the plants 19-21 such that they are aligned generally in a row specifically with their corresponding illustrative plants -17 of the illustrative support 10. The hobbyist then deposits gravel into the aquarium 40 upon the bottom 44 thereof and covers the base members 22 respectively of the ornamental objects 19-21. The gravel 49 thus conceals the base members 22 and thus supports the ornamental plants or objects 19-21 and resists their bouyant tendency to rise in water.

The optical characteristics of the reflective and refractive media such as the glass panels and water of the aquarium are well known to those skilled in the art and, therefore, need not be discussed herein. It is important, however, and noteworthy that the instructive display package, according to the present invention and thereby the method for arranging the aquarium according to the present invention, results in two optical phenomcnon that should be clarified. Firstly, there is cffected a multiplicity of images of the ornamental objects 19-21 in the aquarium since the partially reflective surfaces of the panels 41-43 and refractive nature of the water in combination, act to multiply the actual number of ornamental objects 19-21.- Furthermore, there is effected, because of the present invention, an enhanced or exaggerated perspective rearward depth of the aquarium itself. In this respect, the illustrated objects 15-17 on the illustrative support 10 which lie behind the ornamental objects 19-21 in corresponding relation, effects and exaggerates the actual depth visible to an observer. It is a preferred characteristic of the present invention to make the illustrative objects generally smaller than the ornamental objects 19-21 so that when the illustrative support and ornamental objects 19-21 are properly positioned, the corresponding illustrative and ornamental objects impart or convey an exaggerated effect of distance to an observer.

In this respect, the illustrative support 10 is generally formed by taking a photograph of an actual marine environment which has an actual rearward depth substantially greater than the aquarium 40 and thus, the illustration of the marine life on the illustrative support 10 exaggerates in combination with the ornamental objects 19-21 the actual depth of the aquarium.

It is clear from the above description that the display package, according to the present invention, is instructive to enable the hobbyist to arrange his aquarium with the least number of ornamental objects so that he can rely on optical characteristics of reflection and refraction which he himself need not be aware of and achieve an imaginary multiplicity effect and an exaggerated imaginary rearward depth of the aquarium.

Numerous alterations of the structure herein disclosed will suggest themselves to those skilled in the art. However, it is to be understood that the present disclosure relates to a preferred embodiment of the invention which is for purposes of illustration only and not to be construed as a limitation of the invention.

What is claimed is:

l. A display package comprising an illustrative support and transparent chamber-defining cover connected to one another, a plurality of ornamental objects differing from one another and interposed between said illustrative support and cover, said ornamental objects being generally similar to respective corresponding illustrated objects on said illustrative support, securing means for detachably securing said objects relative to said illustrative support such that said ornamental objects coincide with corresponding of said illustrated objects respectively, said ornamental objects and illustrated objects comprising a replica of aquatic life in an aquatic environment.

2. A display package as claimed in claim 1, wherein said securing means includes a plurality of spaced receptacles in said transparent cover for receiving at least a portion of eachof said ornamental objects to maintain the latter in spaced relation with one another and coincidental with corresponding of said illustrated objects respectively.

3. A display package as claimed in claim 2, wherein said spaced receptacles extend in said transparent cover generally transversely of said illustrative support at an edge portion of the latter.

.4. A display package as claimed in claim 1, wherein corresponding ornamental objects and illustrated objects are of generally the same color, and said illustrated objects are of smaller size than that of said ornamental objects.

5. A display package comprising an illustrative support and transparent chamber-defining cover connected to one another, a plurality of ornamental objects differing from one another and interposed between said illustrative support and cover, said ornamental objects being generally similar to respective corresponding illustrated objects on said illustrative support, first securing means for detachably securing said objects relative to said illustrative support such that said ornamental objects coincide with corresponding of said illustrated objects respectively, said illustrative support including second securing means for securing said illustrative support to an external source upon detachment of said illustrative support from said transparent cover, said second securing means comprising adhesive means on opposite edge portions extending along illustrative face of said illustrative support, andprotective means for maintaining said adhesive means re-adhesive during the maintenance of said illustrative support and transparent cover in assembled package form.

6. A display package as claimed in claim 5, wherein said first securing means includes a plurality of spaced receptacles in said transparent cover for receiving at least a portion of each of said ornamental objects to maintain said ornamental objects in spaced relation 7 with one another and coincidental with corresponding of said illustrated objects respectively.

7. A display package as claimed in claim 6, wherein said spaced receptacles extend in said transparent cover generally transversely of said illustrative support at an edge portion of said illustrative support.

8. A display package as claimed in claim 5, wherein said ornamental objects and illustrated objects comprise a replica of aquatic life in an aquatic environment.

9. A display package as claimed in claim 5, wherein corresponding ornamental objects and illustrated objects are of generally the same color, and said illustrated objects are of smaller size than that of said ornamental objects.

10. A display package as claimed in claim 5, wherein said protective means is a strip of flexible material. 

1. A display package comprising an illustrative support and transparent chamber-defining cover connected to one another, a plurality of ornamental objects differing from one another and interposed between said illustrative support and cover, said ornamental objects being generally similar to respective corresponding illustrated objects on said illustrative support, securing means for detachably securing said objects relative to said illustrative support such that said ornamental objects coincide with corresponding of said illustrated objects respectively, said ornamental objects and illustrated objects comprising a replica of aquatic life in an aquatic environment.
 2. A display package as claimed in claim 1, wherein said securing means includes a plurality of spaced receptacles in said transparent cover for receiving at least a portion of each of said ornamental objects to maintain the latter in spaced relation with one another and coincidental with corresponding of said illustrated objects respectively.
 3. A display package as claimed in claim 2, wherein said spaced receptacles extend in said transparent cover generally transversely of said illustrative support at an edge portion of the latter.
 4. A display package as claimed in claim 1, wherein corresponding ornamental objects and illustrated objects are of generally the same color, and said illustrated objects are of smaller size than that of said ornamental objects.
 5. A display package comprising an illustrative support and transparent chamber-defining cover connected to one another, a plurality of ornamental objects differing from one another and interposed between said illustrative support and cover, said ornamental objects being generally similar to respective corresponding illustrated objects on said illustrative support, first securing means for detachably securing said objects relative to said illustrative support such that said ornamental objects coincide with corresponding of said illustrated objects respectively, said illustrative support including second securing means for securing said illustrative support to an external source upon detachment Of said illustrative support from said transparent cover, said second securing means comprising adhesive means on opposite edge portions extending along illustrative face of said illustrative support, and protective means for maintaining said adhesive means re-adhesive during the maintenance of said illustrative support and transparent cover in assembled package form.
 6. A display package as claimed in claim 5, wherein said first securing means includes a plurality of spaced receptacles in said transparent cover for receiving at least a portion of each of said ornamental objects to maintain said ornamental objects in spaced relation with one another and coincidental with corresponding of said illustrated objects respectively.
 7. A display package as claimed in claim 6, wherein said spaced receptacles extend in said transparent cover generally transversely of said illustrative support at an edge portion of said illustrative support.
 8. A display package as claimed in claim 5, wherein said ornamental objects and illustrated objects comprise a replica of aquatic life in an aquatic environment.
 9. A display package as claimed in claim 5, wherein corresponding ornamental objects and illustrated objects are of generally the same color, and said illustrated objects are of smaller size than that of said ornamental objects.
 10. A display package as claimed in claim 5, wherein said protective means is a strip of flexible material. 